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Newcastle 21 Harlequins 18: Tait's effort in vain

Although the Falcons triumphed over Harlequins at Kingston Park, they were frustratingly inconsistent and went out of the EDF Energy Cup. Sale’s win over Llanelli Scarlets made anything Newcastle did immaterial, but the Falcons fell short of their own targets anyway, scoring just three of the four tries they needed for a bonus point and any chance of progressing to the semi-finals.

Newcastle were brilliant at times, especially when Toby Flood and Mathew Tait were probing, and then infuriatingly profligate, spilling the ball and passing poorly when precision was needed.

Falcons could not have made a worse start, conceding 10 points in the opening seven minutes. Andrew Mehrtens kicked a penalty in the first minute and shoddy Newcastle tackling ended with wing Adam Thompstone going over in the corner, Mehrtens converting.

It took Newcastle a long time to get into the game, but a spectacular break from his own 22